Sage Markandeya was a great Brahmin devotee of Shiva and is most famous Shaivacharya in Puranas, but he was also very much Vaishnava. May be later he turned to Bhagavat dharma of Vaishnavism. His story is also found in Bhagavatam Purana where he obtains boon from lord Vishnu to have darshan of his Maya. After Sage Narada, he is the second Rishi who had seen and experienced pralaya. Markandeya Purana was written as a tribute to this great sage. He is very much present in Mahabharata period and large section of his upadesh is found in it. In Mahabharata he has said that he did austerities and worshiped Shiva for 10000 years and got boon of immortality. Traditionally in Hinduism there were 7 permanent immortals living on earth to serve dharma and liberate people, but later Markandeya was also included, therefore there are eight immortals:-
अश्वत्थामा बलिर्व्यासो हनुमांश्च विभीषण:।
कृप: परशुरामश्च सप्तैतै चिरजीविन:॥
सप्तैतान् संस्मरेन्नित्यं मार्कण्डेयमथाष्टमम्।
जीवेद्वर्षशतं सोपि सर्वव्याधिविवर्जितः॥
Ashwatthama, Mahabali, Vyasa, Hanuman, Vibhishana, Kripa, Parashurama and Markandeya are eight who if worshipped and remembered offers one freedom from ailments and longevity.
I will come later on this, here I am going to tell you a short story of his birth. Shani was about to kill Markandeya, he was born in Shani mahadasha but Shiva saved him and made him immortal. The story of Markandeya goes thus –
Mrikandu Rishi lived with his wife Marudvati in his hermitage. Years have been passed but they had no children. Marikandu worshipped lord Siva for a long time for a son. Pleased with his devotion Lord Siva appeared to him, and said, “I am pleased with your devotion, Mrikandu. Tell me, do you want a hundred sons, who will live for a long time, but will all be foolish? Or, do you want one very intelligent son, who will live for only sixteen years?”
The rishi at once said, “Lord, give me an intelligent son.”
Lord Siva said, “You will have that son.”
Soon the rishi got a son. He named him Markandeya. The boy was very intelligent and handsome. Markandeya learnt the Vedas and Sastras, very quickly. Everyone in ashrama liked him.
As the boy was reaching sixteen, Rishi Mrikandu became sadder and sadder. One day Markandeya asked his father: “Father, why do you look so sad? what is the reason of your worries”
The rishi said, “Son! What shall I say? When Lord Siva gave you to me, he said you would live only sixteen years. You are now about to reach that age. How can me and your mother will bear the lose of our only son as we have grown old and are reaching at the end this year!”
Markandeya said, “Father! Is that the reason? Lord Siva is very kind to His devotees, you had told me once. He has saved many from death before. I have read about it in the Shastras. I shall therefore worship Lord Siva day and night from today onwards. I am sure, He will save me “
RishiMrikandu was very happy to hear his son say this. He blessed his son.
Markandeya built a Siva-Linga at a spot on the sea-shore and started worshipping Lord Siva. He had forgotten everything, his mind was totally absorbed in Shiva.
One day, Markandeya was worshipping, when Yama, the Lord of Death, came to him. Yama rode on a buffalo. He held a noose in his hand. He spoke to Markandeya, “Stop your worshipping boy! Your life in this world is over. Be ready to come with me.”
Markandeya was not afraid at all. He clung to the Siva-Lingam as one clings to one’s mother and started crying ‘Shiva..Shiva ..O lord of Time..’. Yama threw his noose round the boy’s neck, and about to drag him along with the Siva- Lingam.
Siva-Linga suddenly burst open and Lord Siva came out with trident in hand, Lord kicked Yama in the chest, and said, “Yama! Don’t touch this boy. He is my beloved devotee. He will live forever!”
Frightened Yama ran away with his dootas. Markandeya then prayed to Lord Siva thus –
रत्नसानुशरासनं रजताद्रिश्रृंगनिकेतनं शिण्जिनीकृतपन्नगेश्वरमच्युतानलसायकम्।
क्षिप्रदग्धपुरत्रयं त्रिदशालयैरभिवन्दितं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यम: ।।1।।
पंचपादपपुष्पगन्धिपदाम्बुजव्दयशोभितं भाललोचनजातपावकदग्धमन्मथविग्रहम्।
भस्मदिग्धकलेवरं भवनाशिनं भवमव्ययं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यम: ।।2।।
मत्तवारणमुख्यचर्मकृतोत्तरीयमनोहरं पंकजनासनपद्मलोचनपूजिताड़् घ्रिसरोरुहम्।
देवसिद्धतरंगिणीकरसिक्तशीतजटाधरं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यम: ।।3।।
कुण्डलीकृतकुण्डलीश्वरककुण्डलं वृषवाहनं नारदादिमुनीश्वरस्तुतवैभवं भुवनेश्वरम्।
अन्धकान्तकमाश्रितामरपादपं शमनान्तकं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यम:।।4।।
यक्षराजसखं भगक्षिहरं भुजंगविभूषणं शैलराजसुतापरिष्कृतचारुवामकलेवरम्।
क्ष्वेडनीलगलं परश्वधधारिणं मृगधारिणं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यम:।।5।।
भेषजं भवरोगिणामखिलापदामपहारिणं दक्षयज्ञविनाशिनं त्रिगुणात्मकं त्रिविलोचनम्।
भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदं निखिलाघसंघनिबर्हणं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यम:।।6।।
भक्तवत्सलमर्चतां निधिमक्षयं हरिदम्बरं सर्वभूतपतिं परात्परमप्रमेयमनूपमम्।
भूमिवारिनभोहुताशनसोमपालितस्वाकृतिं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यम:।।7।।
विश्वसृष्टिविधायिनं पुनरेव पालनतत्परं संहरन्तमथ प्रपंचमशेषलोकनिवासिनम्।
क्रीडयन्तमहर्निशं गणनाथयूथसमावृतं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यम:।।8।।
रुद्रं पशुपतिं स्थाणुं नीलकण्ठमुमापतिम्।
नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्यु: करिष्यति ।।9।।
कालकण्ठं कलामूर्तिं कालाग्निं कालनाशनम्।
नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्यु: करिष्यति ।।10।।
नीलकण्ठं विरुपाक्षं निर्मलं निरुपद्रवम्।
नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्यु: करिष्यति ।।11।।
वामदेवं महादेवं लोकनाथं जगद्गुरुम्।
नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्यु: करिष्यति ।।12।।
देवदेवं जगन्नाथं देवेशमृषभध्वजम्।
नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्यु: करिष्यति ।।13।।
अनन्तमव्ययं शान्तमक्षमालाधारं हरम्।
नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्यु: करिष्यति ।।14।।
आनन्दं परमं नित्यं कैवल्यपदकारणम्।
नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्यु: करिष्यति ।।15।।
स्वर्गापवर्गदातारं सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणम्।
नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्यु: करिष्यति ।।16।।
I bow my head in front of Mahakal, What can Death do to me? Shiva hugged him and give him boon of immorality. Markandeya came home, and fell at the feet of his parents. They embraced him, and wept with joy. Markandeya became a great rishi, and lived long. Later he received secret instructions and enthusiastically propagated worship of Shiva through both Vedic and Tantrik ways. In his Tantrik teachings he prescribed the use meat and wine in worship .
